Virgil van Dijk found himself at the center of a controversial moment during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. The incident occurred just minutes into the match when he tangled with Richarlison, leaving the Brazilian on the ground clutching his face. Despite Craig Pawson pausing play, the referee did not consider it a foul. Replays suggested Van Dijk’s arm had made contact with his opponent’s face, prompting VAR official Michael Salisbury to review the challenge. Richarlison appeared convinced that the Liverpool captain had deliberately elbowed him, but after a review, no action was taken.
Former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett later shared his thoughts on the incident, stating that Van Dijk was fortunate to escape punishment. Hackett acknowledged that while the challenge warranted at least a yellow card for being reckless, he stopped short of saying it was worthy of a straight red. He suggested that the force used could have been considered excessive, which might have led to a harsher sanction. However, in his opinion, a yellow card would have sufficed rather than a dismissal.
Had Van Dijk been sent off for violent conduct, Liverpool would have faced a major setback, as he would have been suspended for three key fixtures. He would have missed the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Plymouth Argyle, the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park, and the Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. Fortunately for Liverpool, he remained on the pitch and played a crucial role in securing their victory.
Richarlison’s evening took a different turn as he was forced off before halftime due to an unrelated injury, cutting his involvement short. Meanwhile, Van Dijk capitalized on his continued presence by scoring Liverpool’s fourth and final goal of the night. He rose highest to meet an Alexis Mac Allister corner, sealing an emphatic win for his side.
As the game progressed, Arne Slot made several changes to manage his squad’s workload. In the final 20 minutes, he introduced fresh legs, including Mac Allister, who replaced Curtis Jones, and Jarell Quansah, who came on for Van Dijk to help see out the tie. The result ensured Liverpool’s place in the final, but the early controversy involving their captain remained a talking point long after the final whistle.
